Dinant condemns violence in Bajo Aguán region and supports call by human rights watch for an investigation
Noticias
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miércoles 12 marzo 2014
Dinant condemns violence in Bajo Aguán region and supports call by human rights watch for an investigation
Dinant implements Voluntary Principles on Security & Human Rights
Honduras, 12 March, 2014 – Dinant strongly condemns any violence associated with the land disputes in the Bajo Aguán region and supports the call by Human Rights Watch for the Honduran Government and police to investigate the murders and kidnappings that have allegedly occurred.
Dinant also welcomes the decision by the Honduras Attorney General to undertake a special investigation into the land disputes and has expressed its willingness to cooperate fully with all enquiries.
Roger Pineda, spokesperson for Dinant, said, “Dinant strongly contests the accusations brought against the company, its owner and employees surrounding the violence in the Bajo Aguán region. That is why we welcome the call by Human Rights Watch for the Government to investigate the murders that have taken place there, and why we immediately welcomed the announcement by the Attorney General to investigate the land disputes in general. It is a terrible fact that 17 Dinant employees have been killed, almost 30 have been injured during forced entries to our properties and that 5 remain missing. We will cooperate fully with all enquires to ensure that those responsible for the alleged murders are brought to justice.”
Dinant is also making every effort to ensure that those employees responsible for the security of its facilities are trained to the highest standards. Mr. Pineda continued, “Dinant takes very seriously its responsibility to secure our property with proportionate force. That is why we are in the process of implementing fully the criteria laid out in the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, which govern how we vet, recruit and train our security guards, and how we engage with all members of the community.”
As part of its efforts to reduce violence in the region, Dinant recently removed all firearms from its security guards at two of its plantation sites as a pilot for such program. Mr. Pineda continued, “While we reserve the right to protect and secure our property by proportionate and peaceful means, it is the role of the Honduran security forces– and not Dinant – to respond to acts of armed aggression that emerge during the land disputes.”
About Dinant Corporation
Dinant, a company of Honduran origin with presence in Central America and the Caribbean, offers consumer products of superior quality at competitive prices. Dinant is a world-class company committed to the region’s economic development, corporate social responsibility, environment, communities and their employees.
Since Dinant was founded in 1960, it has strived to implement policies and practices that promote environmental and social sustainability, and the protection of human rights. Dinant’s Corporate Security Policy and Code of Ethics is based on the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, a commonly accepted benchmark for corporate operations, as well as national and international standards. For six consecutive years, Dinant has been recognized as a Socially Responsible Corporation by the Honduran Corporate Social Responsibility Foundation (FUNDAHRSE by its Spanish acronym), in recognition of our good practices.
March 12 th , 2014
CORPORATE RELATIONS DEPARTMENTMedia contact: Roger Pineda, roger.pineda@dinant.com